Deep down, the striker always knew Sir Alex Ferguson would find a place for him in his squad.

But it is a measure of the quality United have at their disposal that all seven matches during Rooney's absence with a hamstring injury have been won, with his direct replacement Carlos Tevez getting better with every game.

Little wonder Rooney has been itching to get back, or that he should score against Fulham last night with his first touch since limping out of the win over Wigan on January 14.

"We have been on an unbelievable run," he said after the 3-0 win at Old Tr. "I have missed seven games and we have won the lot.

"You think 'How am I going to get back into this team? It is a dream to be involved. It just gets better with each game."

Rooney's impatience came through the knowledge he felt fit enough to play some part in the victory at West Ham 11 days ago.

"But the wise decision between the fitness department and myself was to leave it a couple more weeks," he added.

"We are on a big run-in now and I have seen players come back too soon, do it again and be out for another five or six weeks.

"The most important thing was to stop that happening."

Ferguson now has a selection problem, if not for Saturday's encounter with Blackburn - when a 15th consecutive clean sheet for Edwin van der Sar would see him set a new European record for the length of time without conceding a league goal - then certainly the following week's Champions League encounter with Inter Milan and the Carling Cup final on March 1.

"If you are at this club you want to play in the big games and Inter is a massive one for us," said Rooney.

The selection poser will not be easily resolved, although Rooney's mere presence provides a lift few of his colleagues can match.

"There has been no real urgency to rush Wayne back because we have had options which gave us the time to do what we did," admitted United assistant-boss Mike Phelan.

"But even when he warms up the crowd start chanting and get out of their seats a little bit."

Ferguson's problems are not restricted to just one area of the pitch.

After another solid performance, this time at right-back, which included the assist for Dimitar Berbatov's 12th goal of the season, it will be hard to tell John O'Shea he is not involved providing he recovers from a minor heel injury.

Of the side which beat Chelsea last month, Ryan Giggs was sat in the stands last night, with Darren Fletcher on the bench as Michael Carrick and Paul Scholes pressed their midfield claims, while Nani's reward for his weekend goal was also a night of inactivity.

Yet Ferguson seems to have found the magic formula for keeping everyone happy, although clearly winning trophies, which could total five by the time United finish their campaign, helps.

"We are in a terrific position in the league," said Rooney of United's five-point cushion.

"That game in hand seems to have been there for a long time. Now we have played the same number as everyone else so we know where we stand.

"We are confident. We have kicked on since December and won a lot of hard games since then.

"Now we are looking forward to hopefully to winning more trophies."